What do “Livin on a Prayer,” epic disappearing acts, The Daily Show, and gourmet white-collar crime have in common?Their brilliant creators (Bon Jovi, David Copperfield, Jon Stewart and Martha Stewart, respectively) are all from New Jersey!Before they were stars, these celebs used to kick back in Jersey’s finest late-night diners until the sun came up.

Conclusion: Genius is born at late-night greasy spoons over pancakes.I never thought I’d say this, but this town could take a few tips from New Jersey.

What to do?Call the Evanston location of Clarke’s Diner at (847)864-1610 and tell them to stay open past 2 a.m.!

Swingers. There are a bunch of drunk eating scenes in this modern classic, but Vince Vaughn jumping up on the table celebrating Jon Favreau’s newfound machismo takes the cake. “Our little baby’s all grows up!”

Old School. You never actually see drunk eating, but Will Ferrell’s “Do you think KFC is still open?” while running through town naked remains one of the most quotable lines from the movie.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Yeah, we know they weren’t drunk, but close enough.

So we decided to do some digging and try to figure out WHY Evanston has a culture that seems to be simply uneager to embrace late night food. As many of you may know, Evanston is a city with a history deeply rooted in a tradition of prohibition, and was actually a “dry” city until the 1970s, in part due to an amendment in Northwestern’s charter in 1853. This amendment prohibited the sale of alcohol within 4 miles of the university, and had a serious impact on the social development of the city.

Now, this lovely lady above me, friends, is one Miss Frances Willard. Miss Willard is best known for her involvement with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, an organization founded in Evanston in 1873 and best known for spearheading the prohibition movement. Miss Willard was a driving force in keeping the town dry, clearly not knowing how her efforts would affect those of us looking for a little something to eat at 3 a.m. over 100 years later. The bars in the city have clearly come to their senses, and broken free from Willard’s grasp – now it’s time for restaurants to do the same!

If you could pick one late-night food option to eat for the rest of eternity, what would it be?Shot in the dark: It wouldn’t be from Burger King.

Having a hard time making a decision?Think back to your neighborhood pizza-by-the-slice joint, the one that made you the connoisseur of drunk food you are today.How foldable the crust, how deliciously salty the sauce and cheese, how portable the package!

What about the cornerstone of Americana, the late-night greasy spoon diner?Home fries, sizzling bacon, and eggs over easy sound about right…and bottomless cups of coffee to keep the party going until dawn.

For me, the choice was easy.I picked the “Rise and Shiner,” the beloved best-selling menu item from Vermont’s own Kountry Kart Deli.While they lose respect for needlessly misspelling their business name, they earn it back (and then some) every time I order this late-night menu marvel.Picture this: a soft 12” white sub roll stacked with sausage patties, hash browns, fried eggs and melted cheese.The taste combination is incredible, but the benefits don’t stop there – eat the first half at 3 a.m., and save the rest for tomorrow morning!Now that’s a great way to stretch your dollar a little farther.